Lowell was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their third straight defeat. They fell just short of the Hanover Central Wildcats by a score of 8-7. The result was an unpleasant reminder to Lowell of the 5-4 loss they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in April of 2023.
Olivia Fuentes spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned (and four unearned) runs on ten hits and racked up six Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive pitching appearances.
On the hitting side, Ashlee Evans made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 1-for-3 with two runs, a triple, and an RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Kenzie Schwartz, who went 1-for-2 with two RBI and a double.
On Hanover Central's side, Payton Antkiewicz made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over seven innings while giving up five earned (and two unearned) runs off nine hits. Antkiewicz was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Gabi Comia, who scored a run and stole a base while going 3-for-4. Abigail Casten was another key contributor, scoring a run while going 3-for-5.
Lowell's defeat dropped their record down to 1-5. As for Hanover Central, the victory made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 5-1.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Lowell will square off against Valparaiso at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Valparaiso will roll in looking for their sixth straight win, something Lowell surely won't give up without a fight. As for Hanover Central, they will head out on the road to challenge Hobart at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
